The air inside the grand library was heavy with the scent of parchment, ink, and the faint mechanical hum of unseen machines. Rays of light filtered through tall, stained glass windows, painting the marble floors with a mosaic of golden and crimson patterns. In one of the upper chambers, beneath an ancient dome etched with unfamiliar constellations, a young man sat surrounded by stacks of books, glowing tablets, and scattered papers. His sharp golden eyes were fixated on the holographic screen in front of him, lines of data scrolling endlessly.
He had once been known as Solar — one of the seven elemental beings born from the unified entity Boboiboy. But that name, like the past world, was behind him now. After the split, when the seven elemental fragments were scattered across different realms, each had to carve a new path. He remembered vividly the final moment: the unified being's voice resonating in his consciousness, urging him to seek his destiny. In that moment of clarity, he had chosen a name that resonated with the brilliance of stars and the relentless curiosity burning inside him.
Alstar.
It was not just a name, but a declaration — of intellect, of ambition, of purpose.
Unlike Thorn, who had awakened in a living forest of primal wilderness, Alstar had found himself in a place that resembled a fusion of a futuristic city and a virtual dream. Towers made of data streams intertwined with physical buildings, and streets shifted their form according to invisible algorithms. People walked with hurried steps, their bodies enhanced with technology, their eyes occasionally flickering with digital light. This was a world where the boundary between reality and the virtual realm had dissolved, and humanity was forced to adapt to new laws.
The first thing Alstar had done was find information. He wandered through the city, following subtle data currents in the air, until he discovered the grand library. It was ancient yet alive, functioning both as a physical archive and a digital hub. The deeper he delved, the more he realized how different this world was. Here, reality was not governed by natural law alone. A game-like structure had been superimposed upon existence, forcing every living human to participate in a deadly system of survival and evolution.
Through old records, digital logs, and testimonies, Alstar pieced together the rules:
Every day from 7:00 to 19:00, humans who received invitations were required to log in and participate in the game challenges. Failure to log in would result in immediate erasure.
All skills and items obtained in the game would manifest in reality, granting real power. But death in the game meant death in reality.
Those who failed to complete the challenges would be erased, and those who tried to flee from their fate would be swallowed by the system itself.
These rules shaped society here. People trained relentlessly, technology merged with game mechanics, and entire communities formed around survival strategies. Some embraced the challenge as a new way of life, while others lived in constant fear.
Alstar absorbed this information with cold precision. He did not panic, nor did he feel overwhelmed. In fact, something inside him stirred — curiosity. This system was clearly artificial, carefully constructed, perhaps even by beings far beyond this world. There was a logic to it, patterns buried within the chaos. To him, this was not just a death game; it was a puzzle waiting to be solved.
He spent several days hidden in the library, memorizing everything he could. He learned about player classes, skill progression, survival strategies, and the rare individuals who had managed to clear particularly deadly challenges. He also learned about "erased zones" — places where entire populations had failed their challenges and were wiped out, leaving only silence and data echoes behind.
As dawn approached on the seventh day since his arrival, Alstar closed the final book with a soft thud. His mind was sharp, clear, and ready. The clock in the city square struck six fifty-nine, and a faint ripple spread through the air. Then, exactly at seven, a translucent light screen appeared in front of him, no matter where he looked.
"Invitation detected. Participant Number: 142. Log in required."
A slow smile spread across his face. "Finally," he murmured to himself.
He pressed the Access button without hesitation. The screen flickered, then prompted him:
"Please enter your login name."
Without a second thought, he typed in: A-L-S-T-A-R.
The letters glowed brightly, and then the world blurred. His surroundings dissolved into streams of light, and for a moment, he felt weightless. Then, with a sudden jolt, he found himself standing barefoot on warm sand.
The sky above was a brilliant blue, the sun blinding. Around him stretched a vast tropical island — dense forests in the distance, cliffs rising at the edges, and somewhere inland, the faint sound of running water.
A new screen appeared:
"Challenge: Survive on this island for 7 days. Reward: Enhanced physical attributes. Failure: Loss of 1 limb."
Alstar narrowed his eyes. The brutality of the system was absolute. He touched his chest — his heartbeat was steady. Everything felt real, from the grains of sand beneath his feet to the salty breeze on his skin. The game had no mercy.
"Character Class Selection Required."
He quickly browsed the options. Mage, Rogue, Craftsman, Merchant, Healer, Soldier…
Soldier.
It was the most balanced and practical choice. Access to basic weapons, decent survival skills, and reliable combat ability. He selected it. Immediately, a military knife appeared strapped to his thigh, a basic pistol with limited ammunition on his belt, and a tactical vest equipped with some rations and a canteen.
"Good," he muttered. He scanned his surroundings. First objective: water.
He moved cautiously into the forest, knife in hand. His movements were efficient, precise. He had learned how predators behaved, and how prey reacted. His senses were sharp, his instincts honed by both his elemental nature and his acquired intelligence.
He found animal tracks near a cluster of bushes and followed them, suspecting they might lead to a water source. But before he could proceed further, a sudden rustle came from the thicket ahead.
A wild boar, massive and tusked, burst out with a feral squeal, charging straight at him. Its small, vicious eyes locked onto his position.
Alstar reacted instantly. He sidestepped, drew the knife, and as the beast passed, he slashed deep across its belly. Blood sprayed the foliage, but the boar was far from done. It turned, enraged, and lunged again.
This time, he met its charge. With calculated precision, he jumped onto its back, grabbing hold of its coarse fur, and plunged the knife into its eye. The boar let out a deafening screech, thrashing wildly, but Alstar held on. He felt for the thick artery in its neck and delivered a clean, final slash. The beast staggered and collapsed.
Panting slightly, he wiped the blood from his face. "Crude but effective," he muttered.
He crouched to collect the boar's hide and meat, knowing food would be valuable. But just as he reached for the carcass, something hissed past his cheek.
A bullet.
He froze, then turned his head slowly toward the source. Up in the trees, perched like a sniper, was a figure. A young woman, with short silver hair and eyes as sharp as a hawk's. She wore a mixture of tactical gear and light clothing, optimized for mobility. Her rifle was trained on him.
Then, with surprising grace, she leaped down from the branch, landing silently a few meters away. She kept her rifle aimed at him, but there was no hostility in her gaze — just a cool assessment.
"You're good," she said, her voice calm but firm. "Not many would take down a beast like that solo. Name's Alexandrite."
Alstar tilted his head slightly. "Alstar," he replied.
She lowered the gun slowly, nodding. "We can help each other. Surviving here alone is suicide. There's a water source nearby, but a giant python guards it. I couldn't take it down alone."
Her words intrigued him. A python that controlled the water source sounded like the kind of challenge this game specialized in — a mini-boss, a gatekeeper.
"I assume you have a plan," he said.
"Sort of," she replied. "You have combat skills. I have range and scouting. Together, we stand a chance. Without water, neither of us is lasting seven days."
He paused for a moment. He could feel a subtle pulse inside him — the light of Gamma, Solar energy. This world's artificial system couldn't fully suppress his elemental nature. Deep down, he knew he was not just another participant.
"All right," he said finally. "Lead the way."
They moved swiftly through the forest. Alexandrite was experienced; she knew how to avoid detection, where to step to minimize noise, how to read terrain. Alstar followed silently, observing her methods. She wasn't reckless. That was good.
After about an hour, they reached a clearing. Ahead was a natural spring — crystal clear water bubbling from the ground, flowing into a stream. But wrapped around the spring was an enormous python, its scales glistening in the sunlight. It was as thick as a tree trunk, its coiled body blocking access entirely.
Alexandrite crouched behind a boulder and loaded her rifle. "There it is," she whispered. "Our obstacle."
Alstar drew his knife, checking its edge, then pulled out his pistol to ensure the magazine was secure.
"I hope you won't drag my leg," he said with a faint smirk.
She glanced at him with equal confidence. "I hope you won't either."
The two of them prepared their weapons in silence, the air growing tense as the giant snake shifted slightly, sensing their presence. The challenge was about to begin.